Knife-switch.



0. H. HOBIT. KNIFE SWITCH. APPLIGATION FILED MAYM, 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 191

I 51mm;

"more s rens GRIN H. HOEF'I, 0 BRONNLEE, NEBRASKA.

. KNIFE-SWITCH.

can: 52.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, Milli.

Application filed May 24, 1910. Serial No; 503,199.

To all whom it may concern:

llo it known that l, ()iuN ll. ins-mi. a citizen oi the United States, residing at llrownlec, in the cminty of Cherryand State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knifoswitches, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric switch of the knife blade type and relates more particularly to a switch designed. for use on multiple circuits.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the constructionand operation ot' devices of this character so as to be comparatively sii'nple and inexpensive to manu-tacture, reliable and efiicient in use and of such design as to adapt it for various uses.

Another object oi? the invention is the provision of a switch including a plurality of blades, whereby the switch can be used in the place of a nun'iber of single pole, or double pole double throw switches, the switch being especially adapted toconnect any desired number of grounded lines with a source of current or adapted to be used to talk on either end of a metallic circuit or to be used in testing either end of a circuit in case of trouble.

l'Vith these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel tea-- lures of construction and arrangements of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto. I

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention:l igure 1 is a perspective view of the switch. Fig. 2 is adetail view of the metal bridging strip adapted to connect together the pivot posts on which the blades are hinged. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of connecting the bridging strip with the knife posts of the switch.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corrcspomling parts through,

out the sev ral views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a slate or other insulating base in the form oi a plate or slab 1, which has openii'ie's 2 for the reception of screws or other 't'astenings servingto secure the switch to a wall or' other support. lvlounted on the center line of the plate 1 are posts 3, on each ot \\lll .'li

is pivoted a pair of blades t and l". The blades are set into the posts 3 and are separated from each other by a washer so that the blades can readily move independently and passing through the post, blades, and washer is a bolt 6 which forms a pivot 3 the blades. At opposite sides of each pi,

are spring clips or contacts I which are e cared to the base 1, and bet-ween the sprir 7 members 8 thereof, each blade is adap to engage Each clip or contact. forms the terminal of a line, and projecting from the base of each contact 7 is a lag 9 having a screw 10 for, connecting the end of a line wire 11 thereto, the line w-ire passing from the back of the base to the front through an opening 12 adjacent the contact 7. in thpresent instance, there are four spring contacts and four blades, hut it is obvious that thh-se parts can. be multiplied according to the nature of the electric system in which the switch is used. Extending from each post 3 is a lag 13 that has a screw let for connecting a line wire thereto. Each post 35? is alsoprovided with a lug 15 which is parallel. with the panel or base 1. These high 15 extend all in the same direction and metallic bridging strip 16 can be inserted over the lugs and held in place on the latter. By this means, the blade posts will he electrically connected so that all the lines can be connected with 'a common source of electricity when one otthe posts is con nected with such source and the line wires 11 are grounded. in order to eltectivcly clamp the bridging element 16 in pl screws or bolts 17 extend through the 15 and are tl'neaded therein, and s 16 has recesses 18 in one ed e for per ting the strip 16 to he. placed over t 15 or readily reinov d the e-iroin "v ti l 1 having to take the screws 17 out. L1 shows two ot the blades in closed circ posit-ion and the other two blades open, but 101* the blades are operated independently and any one or all. can be closed.

From the foregoing description talren in C(mnectiOn with the accompanying dra n" iug s, the advantages of the construction a of the method of operz'itioi'i *ill he read'. ap 'iarei'itto those skilled in the art to which llit'. invention relates, and while have described the 'irinciple of operation of the iuvsi'ti m. together with the devic: which l now coi'w-lt'lcl to he the best embodiment tl'zcrcol, l desire to have it understood that the'device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are Within the scope of the claims.

Y id/That I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A switehof the class described comprising an insulating base, pivot posts mounted thereon, blades mounted on the iosts, contacts enthe base forming line terminals and-with which the blades engage, lugs extending from the posts, a bridging strip engaging the lugs for electrically connesting the posts together, and headed fastenings extending through the lugs to clamp the said strip in place, said strip having recesses in one edge to receive the said fastenihgs and enter between the heads of the latter and the lugs. 2. In a switehof the class described, the

combination of asupporting base, metal posts mounted thereon, means for connecting the posts with a circuit, a plurality of blades pivotelly mounted on each pest, eontacts secured to the base and forming line terminals and arranged to be engaged by the individual blades, lugs extending in the same direction from the posts and arranged adjacent the base, a metallie'bridging ele ment arranged. in contact with the lugs, and devices arranged on the lugs :tor releesably holding the said strip in engegeii'ient with the latter.

In testimony whereof E effix my. signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

GRIN H. seer.

Witnesses:

BERT. Mi'iizrliy, CHAS. J. L191). 

